OSU's Matta gets $500,000 raise

COLUMBUS - Ohio State gave men's basketball coach Thad Matta a raise of almost $500,000, boosting his salary to just under $2.5 million a year and adding another year to his contract through the 2016 season.

In an addendum approved by the Ohio State Board of Trustees on Friday, Matta, in his fourth year as head coach, picked up another year on his contract by virtue of winning the 2007 Big Ten regular-season title.

He was paid almost $1.9 million a year ago under terms of a contract he signed in 2006. The contract addendum bumps his base salary $100,000 to $475,000 and the money he receives for "media, promotions and public relations" by $380,000 to $830,000.

Matta's salary now approaches that of football coach Jim Tressel, who makes more than $2.6 million a year.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said he was not considering renegotiating Tressel's contract.

"I don't do a comparison between Thad and Jim," Smith said. "I do comparison to the marketplace. Thad's is compared to the basketball coaches in the Big Ten. Right now his compensation package places him second in the Big Ten, which is the focus - to make sure that we continue to have our coaches paid at the top of the conference consistent with our expectations."

TIANJIN, China - The American women defeated England 3-0 yesterday on second-half goals from Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx and Kristine Lilly during a 12-minute span in the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup.

The victory occurred on the heels of a team meeting.

"We came together and we told everybody to get off your shoulders what you want to say," defender Cat Whitehill said.

"It was just kind of an open forum for us. Just to say this is what I think is working, and this is what I think isn't working. I think it really helped us."

The No. 1-ranked Americans advanced to Thursday's semifinal in Hangzhou. The final is Sept. 30 in Shanghai.

The Americans will meet the winner of today's Brazil-Australia quarterfinal in Tianjin, with the South Americans heavily favored. In yesterday's other semifinal in Wuhan, Germany defeated North Korea 3-0 and will play Norway or China in the semifinals. After a scoreless first half, Wambach banged in a header in the 48th minute, directing home a corner kick from Lilly before a crowd listed at 29,000 in 60,000-seat Olympic Center Stadium. It was her fourth goal of the tournament and her 81st for the national team in 100 appearances.

GOTEBORG, Sweden - The United States took a 2-1 lead over Sweden in the Davis Cup semifinals, with Bob and Mike Bryan defeating Simon Aspelin and Jonas Bjorkman in doubles 7-6 (11), 6-2, 6-3.

The reverse singles are today with Thomas Johansson starting against Andy Roddick, followed by Joachim Johansson against James Blake. Germany took a 2-1 lead in its semifinal. The Americans lead the series with Sweden 8-3.

PITTSBURGH - Henrik Zetterberg had two goals and two assists, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in a preseason game.

Mikael Sammuelsson had a goal and three assists for the Red Wings (3-1-0). Sidney Crosby had two assists for the Penguins (1-1-2).

The matchup completed a home-and-home series on consecutive nights between teams that will not play in the regular season.

The Red Wings won 1-0 in overtime on Friday night in Detroit.

Most of the Penguins' top players dressed for the game, which was the team's preseason home opener. The exceptions of those who will likely be in regular season lineup: forwards Ryan Malone, Maxime Talbot, Jarkko Ruutu and Petr Sykora. Sykora broke his nose earlier this week in a preseason game at Montreal, and is expected to miss practice for the next five-to-seven days.

Detroit's lineup, despite including such stars as goalie Dominik Hasek and defenseman Niklas Lidstrom, was watered down after the team elected to keep some of its players at home.